Loose-leaii device



1,590,014 c. J. ELLIOTT v LOOSE LEAF DEVICE Filed Oct. lO, 1922 June 22 1926.

:E IU-5.

IN VEA/TOR:

CHARLES J. ELL1o1-1 Patented .lane 22, lfi.

siren sraETES CHARLES J. IELLOTT, OF LOS ANGELES, GALIFORNA, ASSGNOR TO VJESTERN LTHO- GRAPH CO., OF LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA.

LOOSELEAF DEVCE.

Application filed October 10, 1922.

This invention relates to devices which al low a placing, removing, replacing, or posting` of individual leaves in folder or binder.

@ne of the objects of this invention is to provide a device that assures a correct posting of leaves, and facilitates a postingl by allowing a parting` of loose leaves in form of an opened book, having` the leaves loosely disposed between covers but fully disengaged from the covers.

Another object is to provide means by which a loose leaf binder may be placed on its baolr while the connecting` means between the covers of the binder are removed.

Another object is to provide means by which disconnected covers of a loose leaf binder may be moved apart and held so as to :facilitate a posting of loose leaves between the covers. l

@ther objects will appear from the following` description and appended claims as well as from the z iccompanying drawing, in which- Fig'. l is a top plan view of a back supporting' member for holding the covers and loose leaves for posting.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l

illustrating a loose leaf` binder in proper rlation to the back supporting member for posting. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of a connecting pin with fragmentary sectional views of the rear edges of the covers of a binder, illustrating1 the interlocking of the covers.

Fig. l is a cross section through the connecting` pin on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showingalso a portion of the locking bar, to illustrate the coaction between the pin and locking' member. Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevation of guiding plates for holding' loose leaves in their proper relation between the covers of a binder.

ln handlingloose leaf binders, it is customary to open the hinder at a point where a leaf is to be handled, removingl the leaf from the pin or pins of the binder, and after nishing' with the leaf replacing the leaf on the pins. ln some binders, the connecting;-

Serial No.r 583,598.

pins can be parted or disengaged inthe middle, and in other binders the ends of the pins can be disengaged from one of the covers. However. the trouble remains that the leaves have to be moved over the connected portions of the pins while posting leaves.

` In accordance with disclosures of this invention, a posting can be accomplished while no connecting pins are connected with either of the covers nor in any manner engaged with any of the leaves between the covers.

In Fig. 2. the cross-sectional view illustrates a base member V5, in form of a plate or board. A handle-like member 7 is provided on the top of the base member 6, near one end of the base member. A second plate 8 is shiftably disposed in relation to the plate 6. The near edges of the two plates 6 and 8 are notched, the prongs, extension-ends, or projections 9 of the plate 8 being shiftably disposed between the projections 10 of the base plate 6, the upper faces or surfaces being flush so as to form the supportingi base for inserted loose leaves. The surface used for supporting leaves is preferably provided with a suitable cover-4 ing as cloth or any other similar suitable material to avoid a sliinoing` of the loose leaves when standing' on edge between the covers, supported between the handle-meinbers 7 and 12. The covers 13 and la are illustrated in an inclined position. leaning against the handle members 7 and l2, with the loose leaves indicated in dotted lines at 15.

When a leaf is desired at a point near the cover lll, the larger number of leaves are normally moved over to lean against the cover 13. In this position, the ,larger number of leaves would tend to shift with their lower edges on which they are supported over to the opposite side, if the supportingV surface were not provided with the coveringA` l0, above mentioned. The leaves can easily be moved or pushed over from one side to the other, but the covering serves to prevent an undesired slipping, as will easily7 be understood without further illustration or explanation.

The second plate 8 with the handle member 12 is made shiftable in relation to the main plate for several reasons.

Loose leaf binders of various sizes can be placed between the handle members, since one handle member is shiftable with the second plate.

A loose leaf binder may be placed into this supporting part of the posting device, and, after being opened, the vcovers can be drawn or moved apart, in order to malte a posting of individual leaves easy, since the leaves vare spaced in this manner.

After finishing with the posting, the covers of the loose leaf binder can be pressed towards each other, thereby allowing a firm engaging of the leaves between the covers.

Other advantages will be set forth hereafter.

The rear edges of the covers are provided with suitable means to engage with the supporting base described above. Such engaging edges are preferably of metallic construction, in order to inclose the locking means for engaging one cover with the other, when not supported by the base member. The supporting base is provided with engaging strips 16 and 17, the strip 1G being on the main base member 6, and the strip 17 being on the shiftable strip 8. Both strips are provided with engaging lugs 18, for snitably engaging the back of an inserted loose leaf binder in order to maintain the several members of such a back firmly aligned when the interengaging pins are removed.

The illustration in Fig. 3 shows a connecting pin for engaging the rear edges of two covers of a loose leaf binder, the fragmentary sections of the rear edges of the cover being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. The rear edge of one cover is preferably provided with means for engaging the connecting pin at a` certain point, while the rear edge of the other cover of the same binder is preferably provided with means for engaging the connecting pin at any point, in order to allow an inclosing of any number of leaves between the two covers, so that the covers can be firmly pressed together and locked so as to firmly hold the inclosed leaves. rlhe connecting pin illustrated in Fig. 3 is made in sections 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, in order to allow an adjusting of a loose leaf binder to contain any number of leaves, the several sections of the pin being eX- changeably engaged one with the other, so that the first pin section 19 may be extended to any desired length, and the closing section 23 may be applied to any of the sections to form a rounded or pointed end depending upon the preference of the user. The first section 19 is preferably provided with a shouldered end 24, to be engaged with the rear edge of one cover. The shiftable bar 25 is provided with a notch 26, or with notches if more pins than one are used in a binder, the shouldered pin-end and the notched bar being illustrated in detail in Fig. t to illustrate that by a shifting of the bar 25 the pin end 24 may be locked within the rear edge of the cover to which this device is applied.

Designating the rear edge, embodying this locking structure, as the edge 27, and designating the rear edge of the other cover as the edge 28, these inclosing locking devices may be located as indicated in Fig. 2, in relation to the supporting base.

Since the pin is illustrated as not protruding from the outside of the coveredge 27, the strip 1G illustrated in Fig. 1 does not have to be provided with the notches 29 indicated in the strip 17. These notches are provided in order to allow a placing of a loose leaf binder into the base with the connecting pins still in proper position within the rear edges of the binder, the pins projecting through the rear edge 28 of the binder, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The strips 30 are provided on the inner face of the rear edges of both covers to engage with the projecting lips or engaging lugs 18 of the strips 1G and 17, the spaces indicated at 31 serving to engage over the lugs 18.

The rear edge 28 of the second cover is preferably provided with a locking device which allows a shifting of the cover on the connecting pins, and allows an engagement of the cover withthe connecting pins at any point of the whole length of the pins. ln Fig. 3, a bar 32 is shiftably disposed in the rear edge or inclosing housing of the second cover. rllhe bar 32 is provided with a number of perfor-ations according to the number of pins used in the binder. Such perforations are suitably larger than the outside of the pins, in order to allow a shifting on the pins when the locking member is not engaged. A s Arew is provided for shifting the bar so that the edges of the perforations are caused to bind against the pins to such an extent as to lock the pins within the inclosing housing 28, being the rear edge of the second cover. rlhe screw 3a is operative by the thumb-piece 35.

The set screw 36 serves to lock the shiftable plate 8 to the main plate 6, a slot 37 being provided in the main plate to allow a shifting of the set screw with the shiftable plate 8.

lith the above-described device, a loose leaf binder may be placed upon the base, with the rear et ges of the covers engaging with the lugs 18 on the strips 16 and 17. lThe locking device in the edge 28 may then be loosened, and the two covers of the binder moved apart to loosen the inserted leaves. The loosening of the leaves may be accomplished by drawing the two handle members 7 and 12 apart without touching the leaves.

However, before loosening the leaves, and before moving the covers of the binder apart, the connecting pins may be removed entirely, by unlocking the pins from the locking device in the rear edge 27 of the cover 14.

Having the pins removed, and having the covers 13 and 141-` moved apart, thereby loosening the leaves, the leaves can easily be moved to lean either against the cover 1.3 or 141-, so that the leaves may be parted at any point where a leaf is to be handled. Having the leaves parted in this manner, a removed leaf can always positively be replaced at the proper and same place or point from which it has previously been ltr-.lien This assures a proper posting with a loose leaf binder.

To facilitate a` replacing of the connecting pins, side guides 38 are provided to align the loose leaves edgewise. The perforations in the loose leaves are thereby automatically aligned so that the connecting pins can easily be inserted through the cover 13 and through the several inserted leaves.

In the drawing, in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the side guides 38 are illustrated as each consisting of three members, two of the members on the base member or plate 6 and one member on the shiftable member or plate 8, the guides being located near the opposite longitudinal edges of the whole structure at points to engage the edges of the inserted loose leaves; but it will easily be understood that one single continuous guide member on each side of the base member or plate 6 would be sufficient if of a length to extend past the furthermost position of the strip 17 on the shiftable plate 8. As illustrated, the single member on each side of the shiftable plate 8 is disposed to slide between the two members on each side of the base member or plate G. If single continuous guide members are used, they are preferably stationary with the base member or plate G, but may be attached to the shiftable member or plate 8 and slide with the plate 8 back and forth. Single members for the guides offer the advantage that no offsets exist so as to assure absolute alignment of the loose leaves, but the material of the guide members is made the thinnest possible, so that a little offset would be immaterial in guiding the loose leavesedgewise. However, suoli minor and slight modifications are immaterial as long as the leaves can be maintained properly aligned in order to facilitate an aligning of the perforations in the loose leaves and thereby to facilitate the replacing of the interengaging or connecting pins 19 between the back members of the loose leaf binder. Such and other slighti'y modified details may be used, and I do not limit myself to the specific construction of details as long as the principles set forth in this specification are the same and as long as such details are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

1. In a loose leaf device, covers, a base iaving means to engage with the covers edgewise, connecting pins having shouldered ends to engage with one of the covers, one cover having a shifting bar to firmly engage the shouldered ends of the pins7 and the second cover having means to clamp the smooth bodies of the pins, the pins being fully removable when the covers are engaged with the base.

2. In a loose leaf device, a base made in sections one shiftable to the other, each of the` sections having a handle-member extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base-sections forming supports for covers, engaging members on both sections of the base crosswise to the shifting direction of the sections, covers having means to engage with the engaging means on the base sections edgewise, loose leaves, connecting pins having means to engage the covers firmly over the sides of the loose leaves and adapted to be removed when the covers are engaged with the said base, and guide members on the base to engage the loose leaves edgewise to facilitate a replacing of the said connecting pins when the covers are to be removed from the said base.

3. In a loose leaf device, a base plate having a recess in its top surface, a shiftable top within said recess disposed so as to bring the surface of the shiftable member flush with the surface of the base proper, handle members on the base plate and the shiftable member forming the supports for the covers of a binder when inserted into the base so as to allow the covers to separate in the manner of an open book, and Guiding members on the base to align inserted leaves edgewise.

t. In a loose leaf device, a base plate having a recess in its top surface with a smooth and level bottom bordered all around by upright sides to receive and allow a shifting over the bottom by a co-operating second base member within the top surface of the base plate for movements limited by the sides.

5. In a loose-leaf device, a base plate having a recess in its top surface with tonguelike projections of rectangular form extending from one edge of the recess into the recess forming a plurality of narrow extensions in communication with the main recess of even depth throughout and bringing the top surface of the projections flush with the top surface of the base plate.

6. lin a loose leaf device, a base plate having a recess in its top surface, and a shiftable member of a. form to bring its surface Cil Sii

'Hush With the surface of the bese, the innermost facing edge or the base and shifteble member having prong-like portions of reetangular form spaced and arranged so that the prongs of the hase are shi'ftabie between the prongs of the shiftehle member to form u united Surface.

7, In e loose-leef device, zi pin having` a reduced shouldered end und having an un nuler groove in the reduced end to be engaged by a cooperating member of the loose-leaf 'folder so as to hold the pin in a rigid position against the shouldered end and having engaging means Within the opposite end to receive cooperating extensions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing es my inif'enton I have signed inv naine.

CHARLES J. ELLIOTT. 

